Improvement in shingle-machines



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

S. J. PARKER, OF WILLIAMSPORI, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN SHlNGLE-MACHINES.

Specification 'forming part of Letters Patent No. 38,329, dated April 28, 1863.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1,8. J. PARKER, of William sport, in the county of Lycoming and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain newI and usef'ul Improvements in Shingle-Machines; andldo hereby declarethat the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, maki-ng part of this specilication. Figure l is a plan of my improved machine; Fig. 2, a side elevation thereof; Fig. 3, a longitudinal vertical section of the same in the plane indicated by the line :r x, Fig. 1 Figs, 4, 5, 7, and S, views of parts detached.

Like letters designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

v rlhe working parts are all mounted in a suitable frame., A. On one side are two similar parallel thin strips of metal, a a, at suitable distance apart, extending longitudinally of the machine, and forming ways, between which is situated a carriage, B, for holding and guiding the bolt or block from which the shingles' are sawed. This carriage is represented in the drawings of rectangular form, and is supported at its bottom by grooved friction-wheels b b, respectively at its ends, resting on the lower way, while its top is guided and sustained by means of grooved slides c c, resting similarly-against the 'upper way. rlhe carriage is thus held firmly in place, but allowed to slide freely forth and back. The carriage is provided with a suitable table, d, for receiving the shiuglebolt, and it has on its inside, at the proper position, and situated at suitable distance apart, two vertical feed-rollers, C O, of a lengthsutcient to hold against the opposite ends of the bolt, and sustain it in place, and feed it to the saw. These rollers are each made of a hollow cylinder of iron, through the opposite heads of which passes the shaft F, which not quite fills the hollow space, but leaves just suflicient room to allow the projecting` points ff to be driven through perforations in said cylinder, and thereby clinched against the shaft, so as to hold firmly in place. This device is represented most clearly in Fig. 4, which is a crosssection. The points thus are secured very fast, and always hold in place without becoming loose from shrinkage or other causes, as where wooden rollers are used; and the device is also very cheap. Another advantage consits in the ironrollers always preserving the same, which is not the case with -wooden rollers, the latter swelling when wet and shrinking when dry, thus altering their size, and varying materially the thickness of the shingle sawed from the boltthat they feed forward. The iron rollers always preserve the same-size under all conditions; or, if there is any diiierence in expansion and contraction, it is so slight as not to a'eet the desired result. The shaft F, of one of the feed-rollers (usually the one next the end ot' the machine in the drawings) is made stationary, being secured to turn at its upper and lower ends in projections or bearings g g of the carriage.; but the shaft of the opposite roller rests in similar corresponding bearings, h h, hinged in such a manner at the outer ends, in the same plane one over the other, Figs. 1, 2, and 3, that the said roller may be expanded or moved longitudinally back from its fellow, for the insertion of a new bolt at any time, or to Aadapt it to bolts of different lengths. To aecomplish this expanding of the rollers, I securein the same hinged bearings with the lastnamed roller a vertical sh aft,Gf, havin g secured thereto, at any suitable position, a central joint-piece, e, which may be made adjustable by means of a set-screw, if desired, and to this joint-piece is hinged one end of a connectingbar, i, the opposite end being similarly jointed to another rigid joint-piece ou a sliding rod,H, resting in suitable bearings of the carriage, and between which, around the rod7 is situated a coiled spring, 7c, for holding the said rod down, as shown in Fig. 8. When this rod is raised, the connecting-bar draws upon the shaft G, and consequently on the corresponding feed-roller, thus expanding the rollers, as represented bythe red outline in Fig. 3. The sliding rod is raised by means of a similar rod or bar, I, below, over which it rests, thus bringing the respective ends in coincidence, when the carriage is fully drawn back at its reaction. rl`his rod or bar is provided with aspir-.il spring, in the same manner, to throw it downward 5 and it is operated by means ot' a treadlever, K, convenient to the action ot' the operator, a'nd whose extremity rests under its end. Thus, when one shingle-bolt is exhausted,and the carriage is fully drawn back, the operator has only to press on the tread-lever to expand the rollers for the insertion of another bolt. Y

The arrangement is a very convenient and' effective one. ing separate, instead of in one, allow the free movement of the carriage forth and back without any impediment whatever. In addition to this, the inner feed-roller, by being sei cured in jointed bearings, as described, and turning on thejoint-piece e,is adapted to stand in an inclined position, as well as in a vertical one, as represented in the red outline, Fig. l, so that if the end of the bolt should not be s twed er actly square acrossit can adjust itself to the incline, and bear equally on all parts.

On the upper end of each of the rollershafts F F is rigidly secured a ratchet-w heel, D, of suitable size, provided with alternately long and short ratchet-teeth,as in other devices for sawing shingles in a similar manner. Directly beneath this ratchet'wheel, and turning freely on the shaft, is situated a crank-arm, E, projecting outward a sufficient distance, and having thereon apawl, l, held in gear with the ratchet-teeth by a suitable spring. To its extremity is jointed one end of a connecting-arm,

L, the other end being similarly jointed to the adjacent end of a vibrating block or cam, M, situated outside'the frame. This block is substantially of the arrangement represented in Fig. l, being pivoted at its inner extremity, fm, to a projection, n, of the carriage, and having at its outside two rounded forks or cams, 0 o, at the proper position, with a depression between. Corresponding in position with these forks is a small friction-roller, g, secured to a rigid arm, r, of the frame. These forks and the friction-roller have such a relative situation that when the carriage is in the act of reacting or being drawn back. after completing a cut the forward fork, or that opposite the motion ofthe carriage., projects so that it will strike the frictionro1ler, thus throwing the vibrating block around so as to project the opposite fork, and operating the rear stationary feed-roller, by means of its pawl, sutiiciently to feed up the bolt the requisite extent for the thickntss of the next cut, while at the same time the pawl of the other feed-roller is carried back by the action into gear with the next succeeding ratchettooth,ready to be operated. Then, as the carriage goes forward in the opposite direction, feeding up, the rear projecting fork strikes the friction-roller7 before the bolt reaches the saw,'and operates the inner feed-roller, so as to feed the bolt to the required extent to form vthe thickness of that end of the shingle.

In `the drawings the carriage is represented as going forward and operatin g the rear fork of the vibrating block. By means of the alternately long and short ratch etteeth the bolt is fed in such a manner as to first saw a tip7 and then a butt in front, thus sawing the bolt straight. The arrangement is very compact, simple, and effective, and performs the feeding automatically, while the shingles are sawed in perfect form, straight from the bolt, without loss.

The two sliding rods H I, by be` To the lower side of the carriage, and sliding outside the way a., is secured a horizontal rackbar, N, Figs. l and 2, of suitable length for the purpose designed; and into this raclrbar gears a driving-pinion, O, coupled to a vertical shaft, P, by which means the forward movement of the carriage is produced. The reaction ofthe carriage, when this pinion is uncoupled from its shaft, is accomplished by means ot' a weight connected with a cord passing over a pulley, p,'and attached to the carriage at its rear. The shaft l? is made cylindrical, and passes through the pinion O, which is made to rise and fall on it, to couple an d uncouple, with out, however, becoming ungeared from the rackbar under any condition.

To produce the coupling, the top of the shaft above the pinion is provided with a suitable head or cap, having usually two sharp-edged, broad points, s s, Fig. 2, projectin g downward from its lower face 5 and the upper face ofthe pinion is provided with two or three similar points, which engage wit-h those on the cap when the pinion is raised, but run clearwhen it is lowered. Directly below the pinion, and in contact with it,-isV

situated a sliding sleeve, Q, having the shalt turning freely within it, but prevented from turning itself by a pin, t, passing down through the bearing in which it rests, or in any other convenient manner. The upper end of the sleeve is provided with ahorizontal Y projecting arm, in the outer end of which is situated a friction-roller, e, Figs. 2 and which rests on a small cam, fw, of ahorizonta-l shaft, R, passing through the side of the frame, and havinglikewise directly under the raclebar another eccentric or stop b', that forms a stop to a vertical pin, c', secured rigidly to and projecting from the under side of the rack-bar ofthe carriage, as shown in Fig. 2. On the inner end of the shaft R,'in side the frame A, is situated a cam or eccentric, d', Fig. 3, substantially of the form represented, and the use and action of which will presently be explained.

,The relative position of the shaft B. and its parts is indicated lnost clearly in Figs. 5 and 6, which are an enlarged plan and end view, detached.

On the inside of the frame, and at a suitable position to correspond with the necessary length of stroke of the carriage, is situated a curved sliding stop bar, S, substantially of the shape represented in Fig. S-that is, with the curved or'convex portion of suitable length for the purpose designed, provided with rightangled shoulders or notches c a', situated near together, and with the front and rear portions of the bar made straight, the latter constituting a shank, Z', resting and slidingin a guide, f', and the former having a straight, h'orizontal slot, g', in which rests a right-angled arm, h', from the frame, or some equivalent means ot' holding it and allowing it to slide. To the shank l is attached a cord passing over a pulley, i', and having a weight raise or lower it.

secured to its opposite end, by which means the stop-bar is drawn back, except when it'is acted on by positive force. To the side of the stop-bar, ata suitable position in the rear, is secured a shoulder, le', substantially ofthe shape 'shown in Fig. 3, and forming a stop for strikingv against the cam d' of the eccentricshaft, for the purpose presently to be explained. From the rear, lowernlost notch or shoulder a' of the stop-bar extends upward and backward aplane, inclined track,or way, T, Figs. 1 and 3, to a suitable height for the purpose intended, and to a distance correspending with the position of the rear ofthe carriage when drawn entirely back. 0n this track rests the end of a gage-rod, U, Fig. 3, sliding f eely through bearings m' m' from the carriage, and having at a suitable position above a horizontal arm, n, projecting over the bolt, and which, in turn, may be provided with a rightangled projection, o'. The arm may be adjustable on the gage-rod, if desired, by means of a set-screw, so as to The projection o' rests on the top of the shingle-bolt, whether it is large or small, thus holding the lower endrof the gage-rod stat-ionary in a corresponding high or low position, as the carriage moves forward.

The action of the parts above described for producing the automatic reciprocations of the carriage and for gagin g their length is as follows: Suppose the coupling-pinion O to bein gear with its shaft, and the carriage to be moving forward, as indicated by the arrows in Figs. 2 and 3. n As it moves, the gage-rod U will follow down its inclined y track by its weight till the projection o' rests on top of the shinglebolt, whether large or small, and in this position (either high or low) will be retained till the forward edge of its lower end strikes against one ofthe shoulders a/ of the stop-bar S. The point at which it strikes the curve of the stopbar, and consequently the length of the reci procation of the carriage, is determined by its height, or, in other words, the size ot' the shingle-bolt, a large bolt allowing a larger stroke ot' the carriage, and vice versa. Thus the length ot' stroke of the car riage is so adapted that a large bolt runs a greater distance by the saw V covering a greater extent of its radius, and this is necessary to cut the shingle free, while a small bolt runs a less distance, and thus unnecessary eX- penditure of power, labor, and time are saved. As soon Yas the lower end of the gage-rod strikes either of the notches of the stop bar, the latter is forced forward, thereby bringing the shoulder k' against the end of the inclined eccentric d', turning the latter upward into the position indicated by red lines, Fig. 3, and turning its shaft R sufficiently to remove the concentric portion ofthe cam w, from beneath the friction-roller Av of the sliding sleeve Q, thereby allowing the said roller to fall down the abrupt side of the cam, and thus depressing the pinion O sufliciently by the action to uncouple it from its shat'tP, and so releasing the carriage and allowing it to be carried back by the weight attached to it. The position of the parts when thus nncoupled is indicated by the red lines in Fig. 6. At the same time that the shaft R is turned to uncouple the pinion its stop b' is turned up into the position represented by the red lines, and at the end of the backward recprocation of the carriage the vel tical pin o', projecting from the under side of the rack-bar, strikes against this stop,`forcing it back into its originalposition, and consequently turning the cam w so as to raise the driving-pinion and bring it in couple again. Thus, not only are the reciprocations of the carriage automatic, but their length is also gaged to adapt them to sawing bolts of dii'erent sizes.

In order to stop the carriage for the insertion of a new bolt, or for any other purpose, the eccentric-shaft R is provided with a small crank, p', inclining downward and backward, as represented in Figs. 2 and 6, to which is jointed a connecting bar, W, extending outward asuitable distance, and having a slot, q', of suitable length for the purpose designed in its opposite end, through which passes the pivot of a rigid arm, A', secured toa horizontal rock-shaft, B', resting in suitable bearings, r' r', and having inside a lever, C', by which the whole is operated. The lever works within a suitable gage-iron, D', Fig. 1, by which its motion is limited in either direction; and the latter has also an intermediate stop, s', near the inner end, for holding the lever in that position, for a purpose that will be presently explained. The slot q' in the outer end of the connecting-bar W is ofjust such length as to allow the automatic action of the eccentricshaft lt without any interference therewith, whenthe lever C' is thrown outward in the position indicated in the drawings; but when the lever is thrown inward in the opposite direction the rigid arm A' forces the connecting-bar inward, thereby operating the crank p", and turning the cam u* backward, or in the direction opposite its automatic action, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 6. This same action also consequently throws the eccentric d' in the direction opposite its, automatic motion, as shown by dottedlines in Fig. 3. It' the lever is moved forward its whole extent, the concentric portion of the cam w is thrown back entirely from under the friction-roller, allowing the latter to fall over the abrupt forward edge of the same,v consequently instantly uncoupling the driving-pinion, and stopping the carriage at any point, as in case of accident ot' any kind; but it the lever be moved forward only to the stop s' of its gage-iron the cam w will be moved only just sutiiciently backward to allow the friction-roller to rest on the extreme forward part of its concentric portion, and the eccentric d', Fig. 3, will only be turned downward in an inclined direction, instead of vertically, so that when the shoulder k' strikes it it forces it entirely around, and thus uncou ples the carriage. Thus, by setting the lever C' in secured a spur wheel, Q', which turns freely' andloosely thereon and into this wheel gears the threads of an endless screw, E', whose shaft F' receives its motion by means ot' a band from the main saw-shaft Gr', running on a set of cone-pulleys, or in any other con. venient manner. Thus the spur-wheel, and consequently its driving-shaft, is constantly moved in one direction by the screw during all the actions of the machine. In, the reaction of the carriage, therefore, the pinion O, b'eing uncoupled from its shaft, is turning in one direction, while .the shaft itself is turn ing in the opposite. Atthe moment of coupling the pinion with the shaft again, for a new out, the parks thus moving opposite each other would be subject to a great shock and strain when brought together, were not provision made to obviate the difficulty. To accomplish this, I rigidly secure to the lower end of the lshaft P a cross-head, H', directly over the cog-wheel, substantially represented in Fig.` 7, (which is a plan,) andthe top of the wheel I make hollow or dishin g, and locate therein a spiral flat spring, I', one end being secured to the wheel and the opposite to the crossliead. On opposite sides of the upper surface of the spur-wheel are situated two projecting pins, t' t',which, when the carriage is going forward, wind up the spring and strike againstthe ends of the cross-head, and cause the shaft to revolve 5 but when the carriage reacts the spring expands and throws the cross-head around in theV opposite position. Thus, when in this latter position, at the moment that the pinion is engaged with the shaft again, the spring must be taken up, and the crosshead must be moved around to the pins again, thus breaking the shook and easing the coupling before the parts act together. This arrangement is essential to the machine, which is inoperative without it. As fast as the shingles are sawed, they fall on a bed or table, K', inside the saw, from which table they are easily removed. After being sawed from the bolt, the rough and unequalV edges of the shingles are to be cut or planed at right angles, to render them` iit for use. To accomplish this, I employ a circular dressing-wheel, L', Figs. l and 8, of peculiar construction. The wheel is cast with alternate oblique ribs u' u' and intermediate space or depressions, o' c', substantially ofthe shape and position as represented most clearly in Fig. 8. The ribs are ground down to a perfectly plane, smooth surface on an emery- Wheel, which is much less labor and cost than when the whole face of the wheel is plane, while the ribbed wheel is much more effective in operation, -as will be directly described.

The face ofthe wheel is provided lwith knives w' w' at proper points to plane the edge of the shingles, andwith suitable throats for the es"- capeof the shavings. Across the ribbed face of the wheel is situated an inclined table, M', provided with a stop at its bottomy for receiving and holding the shingle properly to the knives. As these revolve, they cut away the edge of the shingle, while the depressions between ribs also assist in the escape of the shavings and splinters that would otherwise clog and prevent the effective operation of the knives. The dressingwheel receives its motion by a band from the main saw-shaft, or in any convenient manner.

Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is l. The vibrating block M, provided with the forks o o, and connected with the ratchetwheels I) D by means of the connectingarms L L, crank-arm E E, and pawls l Z, when the same is operated by means of the stationary friction-roller q, or its equivalent, in such a' manner that vthe carriage is allowed a free movement forth and back, and the said ratchet-wheels are actuated equally, whether the reciprocations are long or short, the whole arranged, combined, a-nd operating substantially as herein set forth.

2. The feed-roller G, made ofa hollow metallic cylinder. with the shaft F passing through it and with perforations in its periphery, through which are driven the points j' f, clinchin g against'the shaft, the whole arranged as describedso that the roller is unaffected under all conditions, and feeds the bolt equally and uniformly, substantially as specified.

3. Securing the shaft F of the forward feedroller in hinged bearings h h, and bracing it against side movement by means of a central jointed bearing, e, which allows it to ada-pt itself with equal pressure to an inclined or uneven end of the shingle bolt, substantially as herein described.

4. In combination with the feed-roller snpported by hinged bea-rings h h, the vertical shaft G, jointed connectingbar t', and sliding rod H for expanding the rollers for the inserting the bolt, the whole arranged and operating substantially as herein set forth.-

5. The combination of the two separated spring slidingrods H and I, so arranged that they allow the carriage to slide freely forward and back without impediment, but come in coincidence when the said carriage is drawn fully back, so that the feed-rollers may be eX- panded by their action, substantially as herein described.

6. In combination with the curved sliding stop-bar S, having notches a' a', or their equivaient, the adjustable gage rod U, provided with the horizontal arm n', the whole arranged so that the length of stroke of the carriage is adapted to the size of the bolt to be sawed, substantially as herein set forth. i

7. In combination with the subject-matter of the preceding clause, the inclined track or way T, arranged substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

8. The shoulder k' of the stop-bar S, the eccentric d', stop b', cam w, and sliding sleeve Q,

provided with the friction'roller o, or its equivalent, in combination with the pinion 0, for the purpose of coupling and uncoupling the latter to and from its shaft, arranged substantially as herein described.

9. Connecting the eccentric shaft R with the vibrating lever C' by means of the inclined crank p', connectingbar W, provided Withthe slot q', arm A', and rock-shaft B', the Whole arranged and combined in such a manner that the said eccentric-shaft is turned backward by the action of the lever, so as to permanently uncouple the driving-pinion at any time, and so that the automatic action is carried on Without impediment, substantially as herein specified.

10. The cross-head H' of the drivingshaft, in combination with the spur-Wheel D', provided with the pins t' t', and the spiral spring l l', arranged and operating substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

S. J. PARKER.

Witnesses:

R. F. OsGoon, D. C. JOHNSON. 

